CRS Legislative History On Use of Military Force Post 9/11
CRS: Authorization For Use Of Military Force in Response to the 9/11 Attacks (P.L. 107-40): Legislative History, January 4, 2006. [via FAS]
Category «Congress»
Senate Hearing on Nomination of Samuel A. Alito , January 9, and 12, 2006
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing on the nomination of Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States for Monday, January 9, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. in the Senate Hart Office Building Room 216. Chairman Specter will preside. Media Guidelines for the …
Senate Judiciary Cmte. Chair Requests Testimony From AG on Domestic Surveillance
AP: Specter Seeks AG’s Testimony on Spying Related references: December 19, 2005 Press Briefing by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and General Michael Hayden, Principal Deputy Director for National Intelligence. The NSA Spy Engine: Echelon, by Jason Leopold Related postings on domestic surveillance
Corruption Scandal Impacting Capitol Hill Leadership
Series of articles related to the corruption scandal impacting a growing number of individuals on the Hill, as well as lobbying firms. AP: DeLay Gives Up Bid to Reclaim House Post New York Times: Officials Focus on a 2nd Firm Tied to DeLay Blunt and Boehner out front as leadership race begins Washington Post: Ethics …
Senators Continue to Use Banned Cookies on Websites
According to a CNET News.com article by Declan McCullagh, pledges by many U.S. Senators not to use cookies on their e-gov sites have, in at least 23 instances, gone unfulfilled. This is in following with recent news about the use of tracking technology on other e-gov sites, including the White House and NSA.
CRS Report on National Security Whistleblowers
From FAS, this link to a new CRS report, National Security Whistleblowers, December 30, 2005 (47 pages, PDF): “To discharge its constitutional duties, Congress depends on information obtained from the executive branch. Domestic and national security information is provided through agency reports and direct communications from department heads, but lawmakers also receive information directly from …
Professional Qualifications of Judge Alito Evaluated by ABA and Law Professors
ABA Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary rating of professional qualifications of Samuel A. Alito – January 4, 2006 Also from the ABA: Investigations of Supreme Court Nominees: This is a one-page summary highlighting the special investigative procedures followed by the Committee when evaluating a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ratings of Article III Judicial …
Objections Conveyed to White House On Limited Scope of NSA Briefings
AP reports that House Intelligence Committee ranking Democrat, Rep. Jane Harman sent a letter to the White House stating the limited scope of NSA briefings on domestic surveillance, provided only to select members of Congress, did not comply with the National Security Act. Related references: “EPIC has obtained the first Freedom of Information Act documents …
White House May Not Cooperate With Intelligence Committee Hearings
In following previous postings on domestic surveillance, a glimpse into the contentious situation between Congress and the White House, exemplified by the following exchange from the White House Press Briefing by Scott McClellan, January 3, 2006: Q A number of members of Congress do not agree that the President has the authority to do what …
Release of New Documents Complicates Understanding of NSA Actions Post 9/11
Several articles available today expand upon the discussion about, and information related to, the escalating controversy generated by revelations of a post 9/11 domestic surveillance program. Listed below are the articles and links which collectively shed new light on the issue, result in further questions yet unanswered, and offer additional commentary and perspective on potential …
U.S. v. Jack Abramoff
From the Talking Points Memo Document Collection: Abramoff Plea to Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, and Tax Evasion, January 3, 2006 (HTML, 13 pages) Abramoff Plea Deal for Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, and Tax Evasion Charges, January 3, 2006 (HTML, 29 pages) And from FindLaw: Plea Agreement, January 4, 2005 (7 pages, PDF) DOJ press release: Former Lobbyist …
Declassified Letters by Pelosi and Hayden on NSA Activities Released
Following up on my December 21, 2005 posting, Pelosi Requests Declassification of Her Letter on NSA Activities, today Congresswoman Pelosi released the text of her letter, along with the response of then National Security Agency (NSA) Director Michael Hayden, both of which have redacted, and date from October 2001. Related references: AP: Intelligence Panel Had …
